John was a rebellious student who dropped out of high school and left home for a period during turbulent teen years. He returned -- thanks to parent/teacher tough love -- and later was trained as a Russian interpreter for the United States Army Security Agency, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University, and went on to become an author of books that made and topped bestseller lists. He is a philosopher and publisher as well as an author. His passion and purpose is to write and/or publish books which have a message and a purpose: to reach, teach, and inspire children and adults to be all that they can be.
John has presented programs across the United States and in Europe to more than 500,000, including student reading and writing programs, teacher in-service programs, and communication workshops for businesses and organizations. He has been a guest for literacy and other communication skill discussions on numerous radio and television talk shows across the country and has spoken at education conferences, including Staff Development for Educators programs and the World Congress of the International Reading Association in New Zealand.
His latest release is a book titled Warriors Forever, originally commissioned to be the story of the Rockford West High Warriors '55 - '56 back-to-back state (Illinois) high school basketball championships. But, John being the philosopher as well as the writer, could not limit the tale to strictly sport aspects. In his interviews and research, he became aware of the racial tensions and community attitudes which came to play when African American players were incorporated onto the high school roster.
He also speaks and writes extensively on the duties, rights, and privileges of citizenship. He is co-authoring a book with an attorney called Never Vote For A Lawyer.
His books include titles for children and adults: The First Forest, Keeping First Things First, Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! and What Is That Thing? Whose Stuff Is This? One of his books has been published in Chinese and Spanish and three have been book club selections. John also is the author of features published by periodicals throughout the United States and Canada.He created and produced the cartoon Blockheads & Co.™ for the Register and Tribune Syndicate and wrote a humor column, Gile Without Guile,™ which was syndicated nationally by NC News Service.
John resides in Rockford, IL with his wife, Renie, a designer and former shopkeeper specializing in vintage decor. When John is not immersed in a writing project, they enjoy traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren and participating in author events.
